Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 1- H. G. LANE.

DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 881,704. Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 2. H. G. LANE.

DITGHING MACHINE. No. 881,704. Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 3, H. G. LANE. DITGHING MAGEINE.

PatentedApr. 24, 1888 ammo/W1 u. PETERS, PhaEo-Lhhcgmphul, WashingfiO-v, 1:. cv

(No Model.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. G. LANE.

DITOHING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

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H. G. LANE DITGHING MACHINE.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H. G. LANE. DITUHING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

,704 Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

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UNrTm) STATES PATENT @Fhllflli HEXRY G. LANE, OF BUGYRUS, OHIO.

DlTCHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.381,'704:, dated April 2%, 1888.

Serial No. 259,977. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY G. LANE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Bucyrus, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereomwhich form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a tileditching machine which excavates the trench, deposits the tile in the trc11ch,and covers the tile with the earth excavated in the formation of the trench.

The object of the invention is, first, to provide simple, convenient, and efficient means for regulating the depth of the ditch; second, to devise a construction whereby the ditch can be graded in a convenient manner; third, to contrive devices for depositing the tile in the ditch and covering them in an economical and expeditious way; fourth, to construct an excavator which will be simple and compact in arrangement and perform its work in a rapid and eihcient manner; fifth, to provide a means for positively relieving the excavating device of the earth removed from the trench without impeding its progressive movement; sixth, to provide devices for preventing the earth removed from the trench from falling in the path of the excavating device; seventh, to devise a mechanism for preventing loose earth from falling on the bottom of the trench; eighth,to construct a tile layer or gnidewhichis adjustable to diffcrenbsized tiles, and will hold the tile in position until partially covered,thereby insuring its being laid in a straight course; ninth, to provide a means for the excavatorehain which will not become readily clogged up; tenth, to construct a inud-beltsupportor trough which will be self-clearing from detached earth, and, lastly, to produce a machine for the purposcshereinheforc mentioned which will be readily accessible to all its parts, selfpropclling, easily adjusted to a given grade, and equipped so that the grade of the trench may he had irrespective of the roll and swell of the ground, and which will be compact,

efficient, durable, and convenient of opera tion.

The improvement consists of the novel construction of the frame and the combination therewith of a vertically-movahle sash'or gate carrying the excavating device, of the mechanism for transmitting motion to the said excavating device and allowing of a vertical adjustment of the said sash, of provisions for mechanically adjusting the said sash, of an ejector to forcibly push the earth from the carthremoving devices, and which will be automatic in its operation, gradually engaging with the said earth-removing devices, and progressively advancing to its work in a positive manner, and gradually disengaging itself from the said earth-removing devices after it has performed its work,and otthe novel features and peculiar construction and combination of parts,which will hereinafter be more fully drseribed and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in whieh- Figure l is a side view, parts being broken away, of a tile ditching and laying machine of my invention, showing the relative position .of the parts prior to reducing the'machiue to practice; Fig. 2, a side view of the machine, looking at the side hidden from view in Fi 1, showing the same reduced to practice; Fig. 3, a detail side view of that portion of the ma chine comprised between the lines X X and Y Y of Fig. l, on an enlarged scale; Fig. at, a front view of Fig. 3,0r a section on thelineX X ofFig.1,on an enlarged scale;Fig.5,asideview, parts being broken away and partly in section on the line Z Z of Fig. 4, of that portion of the machine in front of theline X X of Fi 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6, a top plan View, parts being broken away, of that part of the machine forward of the line X X of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7, a top plan view of that part of the machine embraced between the lines X X and Y Y of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8, an enlarged view of the mudbelt and mud-belt support or trough as seen in cross section in Fi 4; Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of a portion of the mud-belt and its support or trough on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10,a perspective view ofthe earthremoving device or link of the excavatonchain on an enlarged scale; Fig.11,a perspective view of the lower portion of the tile-layer on an enlarged scale; Fig. 12, a cross-sectionon the line 12 12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a detail crosssection, parts being broken away, of the improved sprocket-wheel for supporting the excavator-chain; and Fig. 14, a top plan view of the shield, showing the front end of the T- bar in engagement therewith.

The truck-frame of the machine comprises side sills, A, and front and rear sills A. The propelling and actuating mechanism is supported at the front end ofthe frame. The boiler B, for generating the steam, is located at the rear end of the frame,and the excavating devices are located intermediate these points. Thus it will be seen that the excavating devices are held down bya weightin front and aweight in the rear thereof, and these weights are disposed directly above the front and rear axles, O and 0, respectively, thereby relieving the middle portion of the truck-frame of excessive weight and rendering it susceptible of better abnormal strain without rupture. By having the mechanism disposed as just described the weightis more evenly distributed on the truck frame, and the supporting-wheels (J carry about equal amountof load.

The machine can be drawn forward by any well-known means orpower,which may be ap pliedvto the tongue 0 but preferably by the rope or cable D, which is wound around the drum or Windlass D. One end of the rope or cable is fastened to a stump of a tree or stake (not shown) driven into the ground some disopposite end, and midway between its ends the gear-wheel d",which meshes with the pinion d on the power-driven shaft d This shaft d is driven by anysuitable motive power attached to and carried by the machine. The most economical form of power for this class of ma chinery is steam, and two single-acting steam engines,d, are employed for driving the shaft (1 -0136 engine being applied to one end of the shaft and the other engine to the other, and both being so disposed that they will not stop on a dead-center. Motion is not onlyimparted to the propelling mechanism from shaft d, but likewise the excavating devices, the mudcarrier, and the mechanism for adjusting the excavating devices.

The boiler Bis supplied with water from the tank B',which is located close thereto, the two being about equally balanced on the rear axle. The tank 13 is set to one side of the longitudinal center of the machine as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, to about balance the mud-belt and mud-belt support located to the other side of the longitudinal center, which, as shown, is the left-hand side of the machine. The four uprights or standards E, secured at theirlower ends to the intermediate sills, A, parallel with the side sills, A, and connected at their upper ends by the side bars, E E, and the end bars, E and braced by suitable stay-bars, support and guide the excavator-carrying frame in its vertical movements. The excavator-carrying frame comprises an upper and lower rectangular frame composed of side bars, F, and end bars, Fand F The frames are suitably connected by the vertical bars Fand support the bracket F the lower end of which bracket is adapted to enter the ditch and support the lower bight of the excavator-chain G. v The bracket F is made up of two corresponding parts, which are located at a distance apart and have the sprocket-wheel H mounted be tween their lower ends. A second sprocketw heel, H, is mounted upon the shaft h, journaled near the rear end of the lower frame of the excavator-carrying frame in adjustable bearings it, held in the ways h, through a side of which the set-screw h passes for adjusting the bearing to make up any slack in the excavator-chain. A third sprocketwhee], H, located near the upper forward corner ofthe excavato rcarrying frame,is mounted upon the shaft H, upon which is supported the geanwheel H", which is in gear with the sprocket-pinions d by suitable mechanism which will permit the free vertical movements of the excavator-frame. The same, as shown, consists of the sprocket-chains I and I, the sprocketwheels P and I and the equalizingshaft 1', on which is fixedly mounted the sprocket-wheels 1 and 1 The shaft 1 is called equalizing-shaft, because it is always equidistant from the shafts d and H whatever its relative position, thereby maintain- IIO ing an even tension on the sprocket'chains I l and 1 during the various adjustments of the excavator. This shaft 1* isjournaled between two pairs of rods at their points of intersec- Lion. The rods t and i of each pair of the said rods have their inner or overlapping ends held together by the equalizing shaft 1* and their outer ends mounted on the shafts d 'and H respectively. When the excavatorframe rises and falls, the ends of the rods 2' receive a corresponding movement and the rods 1' vibrate about shaft d to hold shaft 1 equidistant from d and H so that there will be no lost motion between the sprocket-chains I and I and their supporting sprocketwheels.

The lower sprocketwheel, H, is protected by a housing, G, which is bolted to the lower portion of the bracket F This housing prevents loose earth from falling back into the ditch and onto the wheel H, and is preferably made of sheet metal, which extends from one side bar of the bracket F to the other side bar.

The sprocketwhecls H and H, which in practice receive a great amount of loose earth, are constructed with a view to prevent them from packing and becoming clogged up with earth, and to this end they are composed ofa hub, It, radial arms 7?, and side rims, 7L6, bolted to the sides of the arms h at a short distance from their ends. The ends of the arms projecting beyond the rims h form the sprockets or teeth which engage with and fit in the openings G in the links G of the excavator chain G. The rims h are spaced apart to per unit the escape of loose-earth, and their outer edges are beveled to a chisel-edge to prevent the lodgment and packing of earth on them.

The excavator-carrying frame can be adjusted vertically to any desired point by any well-known means for regulating the depth of the ditch to he excavated, either by hand or by mechanical contrivances. The latter are pre ferrcd, and three screws, J J J extending parallel with the uprights E, are provided for the purpose. These screws have sprocketwheels jjj secured to their upper ends, re spectively, and pass through snitably'threaded projections f, extending from the bars F of the excavator-carrying frame. The screws J and J' are arranged near each of the forward uprights or standards E and pass through corresponding threaded projections, 1", near each lower corner of the front end of the excavatorcarryingframe. The shaft K, mounted parallel with the shaft (1, receives its motion therefrom by the sprocket-chain K, which passes around the sprocket wheel (11 on the said shaft d" and the sprocketwvheel K" on the shaft K. The three feedscrews J, J, and J are geared together to revolve synchronously by suitable devices, as the sprocket-chain J which passes around the sprocketwheels j,j and j". One of the feedserews, J, is provided with aerown gear-wheel, m, which meshes with a pinion, m, on the shaft M, journaled longitudinally of the machine and at right angles to the shaft K. Thepinion m is on one end of the shaft M, and the opposite end of the said shaft is provided with a bevel gear-wheel, m, which is constantly in mesh with two idle-pinions,k, on the shaft K, These idle-pinions It are disposed so as to come on diametrically opposite sides of the gear-wheel m, so as to revolve the shaft M in one or the other direction, according to whichsoever idle-pinion k is keyed to the shaft K. Either pinion 7c is keyed to shaft K by the clutchsleeve k mounted upon the shaft K in the space between the idle-pinions k. This clutch -sleeve 76" is constructed and arranged to turn with said shaft K and have a longitudinal adj ustment,so that when shifted to the right it will engage with the righthand pinion and effect a movement of the shaft M in one direction and simultaneously impart' a motion to the feed screws in a corresponding direction, and when shifted to the left the re verse of the operation just described will be effected and the feed-screws will be rotated in an opposite direction. The pitch of the thread on the several feed screws is the same, the

sprocket-wheelsj, &c., are in equal size, and the pinions k are alike. Gonsequentl y the excavatorcarrying frame in its several adjustments will be moved so as to always remain parallel to its normal position ora given horizontal plane.

The clutch-slecves k can be shifted to the right or left in any approved manner; but to facilitate the operation I have provided the yoke L, having its ends fitting in an annular groove in the clutch-sleeve, the bar supporting the yoke and having its ends fitting loosely in brackets L, the arm L connecting with the bar L, the rock'shaft L,and the hand-lever L secured to the rock shaft and extending within convenient reach of the operator or engineer. The pinions 76 have half-clutches k on their opposing sides, which are adapted to engage with corresponding half clntchesflc on the end of the clutch-sleeve it. When the 1 clutch-sleeve is adjusted midway between the idie-pinions k k, the shaft K imparts no motion to the shaft M or the feed-screws, but when shifted to the right or left it engages with one or the other pinion and locks it to the shaft K and effects a movement of shaft M and the feed-screws.

The slack of the sprocket-chain J is taken up by two pulleys, j, mounted on the ends of the cross bar j and held adjustably thereon by having its supportsj littingin the slotsj. The two sides of the chain J are embraced by the pulleysf, which can be brought closer together or separated, as required, to obtain the proper degree of tension on the said belt J The carrier belt G is composed of a series of links, G, secured together by bolts G The opposite ends of the links have corresponding rounded projections spaced at intervals apart and transversely apertured to permit the passage of the bolt when corresponding ends are fitted together. A rib, g, projects laterally from each link and forms an integral part thereof. It may be located at any point intermediate the ends; but for durability and strength it projects from one end preferably the rear end-iu line with the pivotal connection between two adjacent links. Itis designed to receive the excavator-blade g, which is secured thereto by bolts 9 The excavatorhlade is recessed to fit over the rib, which may be of any desired shape in cross section, wedge shape being preferred, with the wider end adjacent the links to better withstand the strain. The front edge of the excavator-blade has a series of fingers chiseledged for better removing the earth in the process of excavating. The extreme or outer fingers, g", are somewhat longer thanthe intermediate fingers, g, and are beveled on their inner sides from front to rear, forming knife-edge points, which cut the sides of the ditch by a smooth clean cut, so that portions will not fall into the trench, The links are generally made of cast metal, and the excavatorblades are made of a comparativelyharder substance-su ch as steel or chilled ironsp as to perform the work in an efficient IIO and rapid manner. The openings G2 through the links are adapted to receive the spurs of the sprocket wheels H, H, and H. The sprocket-wheels are of the same size and are many sided, the sides being equal and of a length corresponding with the length of the links of the excavator-chain. The corners are cut away to receive the hingejoints of the links.

The shield N is adapted to travel upon the ground just in front of the excavator-chain, and consists of a broad plate of sheet material-such as metal-fifteen inches wide, more or less, and three feet long, more or less. It sets upright, and in practice is dragged over the ground just in front of the said excavatorchain to prevent the excavated earth from falling downin front of the excavator-chain after the teeth of the said excavator-chain leave the trench and before they reach the ejector.

A vertical groove is formed near each edge of the shield on its front or working side to receive the ends" of the T-bar N, which is bolted at its front end tothe truckframe. The T-bar is held rigid and the shieldN is adapted to rise and fall to accommodate itself to uneven ground, and yet be firmly braced by the T-rod N. These vertical grooves are formed by securing a bar, a, to each edge of the shield and placing on these bars a second bar, a, wider than bar a, so as to overlap the edges of n, as shown most clearly in Fig. 14. The bars N connect the lower end of the shield N with the front axle in such a manner that the shield N is free to have a vertical movement. The lower end of the shield is turned up to form anose-bar, a which facilitates its riding over the ground, or the nose-bar may be a separate piece bolted to the lower edge of the shield. This nosepiece takes the wear and permits the shield to ride easily over small obstructions.

The cleaners N", two in numberone arranged on one side ofthe excavator-chain and the other on the other side-are adapted to travel on the surface of the ground close to the edges ofthe ditch topush aside all loose earth that may fall from the excavating-teeth before they reach the ejector, thereby preventing it falling back into the trench, and they are formed of sheet metal and have their front and rear edges gradually sloped from front to rear, and at the same time curved outwardly after the fashion of a mold-board of a plow, so as to throw the loose earth away from the edges of the trench. The cleaners are firmly secured to the frontaxle by the beam-extension N.

The carrier-apron or mud-belt 0, located on one side of the machine, is supported on suit able rollers, o, and is driven so that the upper portion travels from front to rear and carries the earth to the rear of the machine and deposits it in the chute O, which can be adjusted to deliver the earth into or to one side of the ditch. The carrierapron or mud-belt is located between the sides 0 and forms with them the mudtrough, and is supported at its ends on suitable rollers, 0' 0. The roller 0" is mounted on a shaft, 0 parallel with the shaft 01 having a sprocket-wheel, 0, on the end opposite roller 0', and geared with the said shaft d by the sprocket-chain 0 which passes around the sprocket-wheels 0 and d. The sides 0 of the mudtrough are supported on the beams or scantlings 0 which are held steadfast by suitable braces and stay-bars, and are connected with said beams O by the stakes or bars 0, which form bearings for the rollers 0. A space is left between the lower edges of the sides 0 and the tops of the beams O for the escape of any earth that may fall from the mud-belt. The deflectors 0, two in numberone for each side of the mud-trough -are arranged in the said spacebetween O and O and are inclined upwardly, the lower edges resting on O and the upper edges extending within the edges of O and close to its under side, as

shown most clearly in Fig. 8. The deflectors turn the earth outward and prevent it dropping on the lower side of the belt and being carried forward. The mudbelt passes overa rollerjournaled at its ends in the elbow-brackets 0, located near the rear end of the mud trough, and having their horizontal branches pivoted to the beams 0 and their vertical branches, which are slotted and formed on the arc of a circle, adj ustably secured to the said beams 0 so as to carry the said roller to and from the mud-trough to increase or diminish the tension on the mud-belt, as may be required.

The chute O is provided at its inner side with a clip, 0 which braces the segment 0 depending from the end of the mud-trough. The clip is adapted to be loosened and tightened and is adjustable on the segment 0 to regulate the pitch of the chute and its position to deliver the earth in the ditch or to one side thereof.

The tile-chute comprises the ways P and P,

the guide-bars P", the shoe Q, and the bottom.

Q. The waysPand P are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the truck-framejust in front of the rear axle and have their lower ends pivotally connected with the shoe Q. Thus the chute can adapt itself to any depth of ditch, and the shoe can accommodate itself to run fiat on the bottom of the trench. The ways 1? and 1?,which are timbers or bars, have rollers P journaled between them to support the tiles and form the bottom of the chute. The guide-bars P are supported on the upper ends of the brackets or clips 10. The lower ends of these brackets are slotted and overlapped and adjustably secured together by the IIO set-screw p, which extends through the said and from each other to adapt them for recei'ving different-sized tiles. When adjusting the bars P it is necessary that the screws 1) and be loosened. The set-screw p fixes the positlon of the bars I when adjusted. and the screws 19 fix the position of the bars I relative to the chute.

The shoe Q, is a triangular piece and is adapted to travel on the bottom of the trench to smooth it and push away any loose dirt to thesides thereof, so that the tiles may be deposited on a pcrfectly'sinooth bed. The bottom Q rests on the bottom of the trench and supports the tile until it is deposited in the trench, and it is provided with side guide-bars, P, corresponding with the guidebars P, to prevent the lateral displacement of the tile, and which are adjustable to accommodate different sized tiles. This bottom Q is adapted to drag some distance in the rear of the ma chine and supports the tile until it is partly covered, thereby insuring the tiles being laid end to end in perfect alignment, whicli is of vital importance, as no projections are left at the olnts to catch foreign matter, which too frequently is the source of drains becoming choked up.

The front portion of the excavatorchain travels in a vertical line, and the earth carried up by the excavator-blades is pushed laterally therefrom by the ejector R and falls onto a chute, R, from which it is delivered to the carrienapron O. The ejector, formed after the fashion of a wheel, is composed of a hub,

radial arms or spokes R and cross-heads It",

which correspond in size to the size of the ex cavator-blades and have their lower edges co nformed to the contour of the upper surface of the excavator-blades in side elevation, so as to remove all the earth from the said blades. The outer ends of the spokes are bifurcated or separated to form the two branches or arms r and a", which have the cross heads R fastened thereto. The outer edges of the branches or arms 1' are fmned on an ogee curve, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, to facilitate the disengagement of the cross heads from the excavatorblades. The ejector is journaled in suit able bearings to one side of the excavatorchain, and the spokes are sudiciently long to extend across the excavator-blades to permit the cross-heads to travel from right to left across the said excavator-blades, and are in sufficient number so that one will engage with each blade of the excavator-chain. The ejector is rotated by having its spokes engaging with the eXcavator-blades,aud the cross-head of the spoke in engagement with the excavatonblade is lifted up with the progressive movement of the excavator-chain, and is at the same time forced across the said excavator-blade, pushing the earth therefrom. This operation takes place when the spoke is traveling from a nearly vertical position to about a horizontal plane during a quarter of a revolution of the ejector. Now, when the spoke is traveling from the said horizontal position to a nearly vertical position diametrically opposite its first position, the crosshead is lifted and carried back over the excavator-blade to again take its turn and operate in the manner just described. The ogee-curved edge of the arm 7', coming in contact with the nearer edge of the excavator-blade, rides smoothly over the same and prevents the lower edge of the crosshead from catching or hanging on the excavatorblade. The cross-heads incline ontwardly from top to bot-tom relative to the spokes, and when coming in contact with the excavator-blade form an acute angle therewith, which is the position best adapted for effectively removing all the earth from the said excavator-blade in a satisfactory manner. The ejector is wholly automatic in its operation, engaging with the excavator-chain, perform ing its work, and disengaging itself after the fashion of the teeth of two meshing gearwheels.

The grader, an angle-bar, S, (seen only in Fig. 2) is fastened to the excavatorframe so that its horizontal branch can be adjusted to any level by having its vertical branch passing through the sleeve S, fastened to one of the vertical bars of the said excavator-carrier frame and held adj ustably therein by the setscrew 8, which passes through side of the said sleeve b. This angle-bar can be swung around to bring its horizontal branch at right angles to the line of draft of the machine, or to fold it close to the said excavator carrying frame, which latter position it is shown as oocupying in Fig. 2. In operation stakes (not shown) are set along the line of the proposed drain and provided with cross-pieces indicating the drain. hen starting, the excavatorcarrying frame is lowered the proper distance corresponding to the depth of the ditch, care being taken to allow for low lands, and the grader is adj mated to align with the cross pieces on the said stakes.

As the machine advances and the grader rises or falls below the grade indicated by the stakes, the attendant operates lever L to shift the clutclrsleeve It and throw the feedscrews in gear to elevate or lower the excavatorcarrying frame whichever may be desired to bring the grader to the grade, so that the ditch may be excavated to the required grade. The tile is placed by the attendant on the tile-chute and gravitatcs to the bottom of the ditch, being pushed off the bottom Q by the weight of the tile on the chute. The rollers P diminish the friction, so that the tiles glide readily down the chute. The excavated earth is deposited on the carrier-apron o and conveyed by it to the rear of the machine, and may be deposited on the tile in the ditch or to one side of the ditch, as desired, by properly adjusting the chute O.

The machine can be used for trenching only, in which event the tile-chute may be dispensed with,and the chute 0 will be adjusted to deliver the earth to one side of the trench.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S

1. In ditching-machine, the combination of the truck-frame having front and rear supporting-wheels, the propelling mechanism and the engine at one end of the frame nearly above the axle of the support-ingwheels, the boiler and the water-tank at the other end of the frame, the boiler being in the rear of and the watertank in the front of the axle of the supporting-wheels, and the elevator located wholly between the ends of the frame and held down to its work by the weight of the devices at each end of the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination of the truclcframe, the engine and propelling mechanism located at the front end of the frame, the boiler and water-tank at the rear end of the frame, the excavating devices between the two ends of the frame, and the mudbelt or carrier-apron, said mud-belt being located on one side of the frame and the water tank on the opposite side to evenly distribute the weight over the truck-frame, substantial-l y as described.

3. In a ditching machine, the combination of the shaft d the engines applied to each end of the shaft d the shaft d, having the sprocketwvheel d on its outer end, the gearing (1 d, connecting the shafts d and ti the shaft 0", extending from oneside' to the other side of the machine and having the sprocketwheel 0 on. one end and the roller 0 on the other end thereof, the sprocket-chain 0 connecting the sprocket-wheels d and 0', and the mud-belt supported at one end on the roll'ero and driven thereby, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the truck-frame, the uprights, and the excavator-carrying frame composed of an upper and lower rectangular frame united by vertical bars and a bracket depending from the lower frame, of three sprocket-wheels, two of the wheels being placed at about the same level, the one in advance of the other, the rear one being journaled in adjustable bearings, and the third wheel being journaled in the lower ends of the bracket, and the elevator-chain supported by and passing around the said sprocketwheels, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the vertically-adjustable excavator-carrying frame, the shaft H having the sprocket-wheel H, and the shaft d, having the sprocket-wheel'd of the shaft I, having the sprocket wheels I and 1 the rods'i and i, and the sprocket-chains I and I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a vertically-adjustable excavator and a power-driven shaft, of an equalizing-shaft placed intermediate of the power-shaft and the excavator, and gearing connecting the equalizing-shaft with the excavator and with the power-driven shaft, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, in a ditching-machine,

of the vertically-adjustable excavator having an extended shaft, H and the sprocket-wheel H thereon, the shaft d having the sprocketwheel d, the equalizing-shaft I, having two sprocket-wheels, the sprocket-chains I and I, and the two pairs of rods 2' and t", embracing the aforesaid wheels and having their adjacent ends united by the said equalizing-bar, which is journaled therein, and their outer ends journaled on the shafts H and d re spectively, substantially as and for the purpose described.

'8. The combination, with the excavatorcarrying .frame and the excavator-chain, of the sprocket-wheel for supporting said chain,

consisting of a hub, radial spokes, and side rims, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the excavatorchain, of a-sprocket-wheel support consisting of ahub, radial spokes, and rims fastened to the sides of the spokes at a short distance from their outer ends, the outer edges of the rims being beveled to a chisel-edge, substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination,with the truck-frame, the uprights, the excavator-carrying frame, the feed-screws connected to revolve together,

the power-driven shaft K, the shaft M, geared at one end with a feed screw and having a gear-wheel, m, at the other end, the pair of idle-pinions k and k, mounted on shaft K and meshing with the gear-wheel m on diametrically-opposite sides thereof, each pinion hav ing a'half-clutch, the double clutch k mounted on shaft K and adapted to move thereon be tween the pinions It and k, and means for moving the said clutch k substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination of the uprights, the excavator-carrying frame, the feed-screws, the sprocket wheels, the sprocket chain, the

power-shaft K, the pair of idle-pinions, gearing connecting the idlepinions with one of the feed-screws, the clutch-sleeve, and hand-lever suitably connected with the clutch sleeve, as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination of the truck-frame, the uprights, the vertically-adjustable excavatorcarrying frame, the feed-screws, the sprocketwheels, the sprocket-chain, the shaft M, geared at one end with one of the feed-screws and having a gear-wheel, m, on its opposite end, the power-driven shaft K, the idle pair of pinions 70, meshing with the gear-wheel m, the clutch-sleeve working between the pinions, the yoke, the hand-lever, and the intermediate devices connecting the hand-lever and yoke, as and for the purpose described. 7

13. The combination, with the excavatorcarrying frame, the feed-screws geared to revolve together, the power-driven shaft K, the idle-pinions geared with one of the said feedscrews, and the clutch-sleeve, of the yoke L,

the bar L, the rock-shaft L, the arm L, connecting one end of the rock-shaft with bar L,

and the hand-lever L fastened to the other end'of the rockshai't and extending within convenient reach of the operator, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. In a ditehingmachine, the combination of the verticallyadjustable excavator-carrying frame, the feed screws, the sproeketwheels, the s prock eta-chain, the cross barj and the rollers j embracing the sprocket-chain and adjustable on the bar 7'*, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

15. In a ditching maehine, the combination, with the adjustable excavator carrying frame, the sleeve S, and set-screw s, of the grader composed of a right-angled bar having its vertical branch inserted in said sleeve and adjustable vertically and horizontally therein, as and for the purpose described.

16. The combination,with the ditching ma- 1 shield and permitting it to rise and fall, and

rhino, of the tile-chute composed of ways and adjustable side guide bars, substantially as dcscribed,to accommodate different-sized tiles.

17. Thecombinatiomwith the ditching-machine, of the tilechute composed of ways and rollersjournaled between the ways and forming a support for the tile, substantially as set forth.

18. The combinatiomwith the ditching machine, of the tile-chute, the adjustable brackets p, and the guide-bars carried by the brackets, substantially as and for the purpose described.

19. The combination, with the ditching-machine, of the tilechute, the brackets 19, having their lower ends slotted, the set-screw p, and the guide-bars secured to the upper ends of the brackets, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination, with the ditching-machine, of the tile chute, the guidebars, the adjustable brackets having slots 1) and the setscrews ;p*, for securing the brackets to the tilechute in any relative position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

21. The combination, with the tile-chute, of the shoe located beneath and extending for ward of the said tile-chute and pivotall connected therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

22. The combination, with the tile-chute l and the shoe located beneath and extending forward of the said tile-chute, of the bottom Q, connected with the said shoe and extending rearwardly therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. The combination,with the tile-chutehaving side guide-bars, of the shoe pivotallyconnected with the tile-chute and extending forward thereof, the bottom Q, and the horizontal guide-bars p, pivotally connected with the side guidebars of the tile-chute and independent of the bottom Q, and the shoe Q, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

24. The combination, with the tile-chute having side bars laterally adjustable, of the shoe and the bottom Q, provided with side guidebars adjustable laterally, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

25. The combination, in aditchingmaehine,

of the excavator and two olearers embracing the sides of the excavator and having sloping front and rear ed gcs and curved outwardly like mold-boards of plows, and having beamextensions which are connected with the axle of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose described.

26. The combination, with the excavator,of the shield N, substantially as and for the purpose described.

27. The combination, with the 6XC2tV21COI',0f the shield N, adapted to travel on the ground in advance of the excavator and provided with a curved nose, a at its lower end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

28. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the excavator, of the shield N, the bracebar N, having a positive connection with the the bar l, substantially as described.

29. The combination, inaditching-maehine, of the shield having vertical grooves near each edge, the T-bar N, having its ends fitting in the grooves, and the bars N, substantially as described.

30. In a ditching'maehine, the combination, with the excavator-carrying frame, hereinbefore specified, and the bracket F supporting the lower sprocketwvheel, of the housing G", closing in the lower portion of the bracket and forming a shield for the said sprocketwheel, and the excavator-chain embracing the housing, substantially as set forth.

3].. The combination, with the scantlings O, the sides O supported at a distance above the scantlings, and the mud-belt supported between the sides, of the deflectors substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

32. The combination, with the sides and scantlings and the mudbelt, of the elbowbracket 0 pivoted at one end tothe scantling and vertically adj ustable at the other end, and the roller journaled between the brackets and adapted to bear on the mud-belt-, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

83. The combination, with the mud-trough and the chute O, of the segment 0 and the clamp 0 for regulating the pitch of the chute and its direction of inclination, substantially as-and for the purpose described.

31. A link for an excavator-chain, having a rib projecting laterally therefrom and an excavator-blade secured to said rib, substantially as and for the purpose described.

35. A link for an excavator-chain, havinga rib projecting therefrom and the excavatorblade provided with a recess for receiving said rib and secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

36. A link for an excavatorchain, having an excavator-blade projecting laterally there from, forming excavator-fingers at its'forward edge, the extreme fingers of which are longer than the intermediate fingers and are sharpened to a knife-edge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3?. The combination, with the excavator,

IIO

the lifting side thereof moving in a straight line, of an ejector having a pivotal support and adapted to travel in a vertical plane and be projected across the path of the excavatorblades, substantially as set forth, for the pur pose described.

38. The combination, with the excavator, of the ejector composed of radial arms or spokes, and blades set crosswise of the spokes and secured to their ends to form crossheads, substantially as described.

39. The combination, with the excavator, of 2. spoke and the blades set at an incline to the spoke and secured to the end thereof to form a cross-head that is set obliquely or at an incline to the spoke, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

40. The combination, with the excavator, of a spoke having the lower side of its outer 42. The herein-described ejector, for the pn rpose described, composed of a hub, spokes having bifurcated ends,and the cross-heads set at an incline to radial lines, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY G. LANE.

Witnesses:

ISAAC CAHILL, A. VVIOKHAM. 

